Grand bargain extortion?: Liberals fear Social Security cuts are coming

[marmar]

Grand bargain extortion?: Liberals fear Social Security cuts are coming
Liberal House members tell Salon they're worried "Chained CPI" could end up on the table. Here's what it would mean

BY JOSH EIDELSON


(Salon) With the government shutdown in its third day and bank CEOs having met with the president, Democrats are hoping pressure from GOP moderates, the media, and Big Business will force House Republicans to re-open the government and step back from the brink of a debt default. But as Speaker Boehner reportedly seeks a “Grand Bargain” with Obama, some progressives are raising concerns about the potential for a last-minute, closed-door deal with a heavy price – including a proposed Social Security cut praised repeatedly by the president.

“I’m particularly concerned,” Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) told Salon Wednesday afternoon, “especially today as we’re in the middle of this government shutdown, that some may decide that in order to stop the government shutdown, in order to prevent us from defaulting on our debt, that we’re going to ram through this Chained CPI [approach to reducing Social Security benefits], which is going to hurt seniors. And it’s going to hurt disabled, and it’s going to hurt veterans. And I think we’ve got to work to avoid it.” Deutch noted that Obama “has advocated for a move to chained CPI.”

“Chained CPI” refers to a proposed change in cost-of-living calculations that would decrease future Social Security payments. As I’ve reported, it’s an idea that President Obama has touted in the past, both as part of his “pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term” and as an example of his willingness to compromise with Republicans (some of whom have asked why, if Obama supports chained CPI on the merits, it should count as a concession). .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.salon.com/2013/10/03/gops_extortion_tactics_social_security_could_be_next_liberals_fear/

[Lifelong Protester]

1. I do NOT even want to hear the phrase

"Grand Bargain" ---nothing "grand" about it.

[djean111]

2. "Grand Screwing" will be more like it. I don't want to hear Grand Bargain again.

[fredamae]

3. And the word "Entitlement" is Bull

shit--Be honest and tell the American People "We're all FOR Cutting Your Earned Benefits" to PROTECT the Wealthy"

[dkf]

4. Claire McCaskill just said that Obama has offered entitlement reform, just don't touch the ACA.

[NCarolinawoman]

5. McCaskill blabbed about this on Morning Joe, this morning.

She was whining that entitlement reform and "Chained CPI " were on the table and the Republicans were not even giving Obama and other Dems credit for putting it there.

All I could think was, Claire, you are an idiot!

[luckykate54]

6. Clare let it out

I could not believe what she said. I supported Obama all the way, now I think I made the wrong choice. The Dems are going to cave again. Hurting seniors is not the way to go, but she made it clear that's what Obama wants. I'm ashamed of the Dems. Everyday they send me emails wanting me to donate. Why would I donate to a party that wants to take away my benefits. I need my money.

[tridim]

7. LOL. Uhm no.

SS will not be cut, just like the last 27 times it wasn't.

For your hair...

[flamingdem]

8. !

[last1standing]

9. Some posters just can't figure out how not to be assholes.

The OP is a link and quote to a respected news source. Just because you disagree, or your feelings are hurt, doesn't mean you need to come in and insult anyone who doesn't toe your particular line.

If anything, your reply is a prime example of "hair on fire" mentality. It's you running around trying to stop any disagreement with your hero like it's a personal slight against yourself.

[tridim]

10. Sorry you are insulted by me pointing out that SS will NOT be cut by this Admin.

Ever.

[last1standing]

13. Try being sorry for spreading hate and ignorance instead.

Since neither of us knows if this administration will agree to cut SS or not, maybe you should try reading what other Democrats, closer to the situation, say instead of running around trying to shut down threads.

I'm sure your magical powers enable you to predict the future far better than congress persons but perhaps you should think of listening once in a while instead of immediately, and ironically, pulling out your "hair on fire" insults.

[tridim]

16. This admin will NOT cut SS. Period.

My hair isn't on fire last1, it is not my problem. I live in reality.

[last1standing]

18. It is pure, unadulterated ignorance to state that there's no chance SS will be cut.

And making absolute claims about the future may be living in your "reality" but not the reality the rest of us have to deal with.

Again, instead of spreading ignorance, try reading and listening more and making absolute claims you can't back up less.

[tridim]

20. It is pure, unadulterated ignorance to state that there's a chance SS will be cut by the Admin.

It has not, and will not be cut despite thousands of predictions by people who don't understand the basics of what this administration stands for.

[last1standing]

21. When posters talk about hero worship, your posts are an example of what they mean.

You have a belief, not based in fact but instead your own desires, that you hold to as an absolute tenet of your faith in Obama. The problem is you don't see Obama as a president who has to work with an opposition but as a god who has given you some mystical prophecy of the future.

I don't know what will happen with SS or any other program in all of this but I do know that it is ignorance to claim a belief as fact.

[tridim]

28. I like Obama because he's the best President we've had in my lifetime, by far.

I don't worship any person or thing.

This Admin has not and will never cut SS.

[Dragonfli]

30. He has told you this in private then? Or is it you read Tarot cards?

[last1standing]

31. Liking Obama is fine, but your posts take it that fondness to the realms of religion.

You act as though Obama has given you your own personalized copy of Revelations.

[tridim]

33. My posts indicate that I like him and trust him.

That is not worship. It is respect for a man who deserves respect based on his actions.

Until you understand that basic concept I'm afraid I have nothing else to say to you.

[last1standing]

34. You have a BELIEF, you do not have FACTS. You are confusing the two and spreading ignorance.

You can put your fingers in your ears, like all willfully ignorant people do, but that doesn't change the facts. You do not have absolute knowledge that your messiah will stop SS from being cut, only a belief based on what you think he's whispered in your ear.

If you ever manage to remove those blinders ask yourself how your version of conflating beliefs with facts is any different from that of other fundamentalists.

[tridim]

35. I have 6 years of recorded history and thousands of Chained CPI!11 predictions that never came true.

You, have nothing but faith that you'll be correct ~this~ time. You won't be.

BTW, Obama just said, "Let me repeat. There will be no negotiations over this."

Did you hear that? NO NEGOTIATIONS. NONE. ZERO.

[last1standing]

36. I'm not the one making predictions and calling them facts. You are.

I don't know what will happen in the future. While I believe (mostly hope) that chained CPI will not happen during this administration, I don't know it for a fact. You think you do know this for an absolute fact and that is a belief based on ignorance.

There is not one bit of difference between your absolutism about the future and that of the christianist fundies. Instead of accepting that the future could be different from your prophesies, you post childish insults against those who link to left-leaning news sites.

Very ironic.

[Enthusiast]

43. If the president is not

interested in cutting social security why would he have appointed two anti-social security zealots to head up his deficit commission? What about the President's ties to Pete Peterson?

[Sheepshank]

37. For all of your complaining about negative posts and comments...

I wonder if you wnet back and read you own responses?

[last1standing]

38. I always love the old "You're doing it too!!!!111!!!" canard.

I'm calling out a poster who insulted the OP for linking to a story and then claimed they knew as a fact something that could happen in the future as their basis for doing so.

Are you suggesting that Obama shouldn't call out Boehner on his lies because that would be "negative?" Exact same logic.

[Sheepshank]

39. it's not a canard if you're really doing it

you had options to words your responses differently. You chose to response the very way you are decrying. It's just makes for stupid comebacks. Civility can work wonders.

[tridim]

41. Do you think "I like Obama" is a negative post?

[RebelOne]

42. Hope you are right as I am on SS. n/t

[DURHAM D]

14. The President put it on the table to begin with and

he has NEVER taken it off.

AARP has sent out dozens and dozens of emails over the past years stating it is still in Obama's playbook and asking us to call or write our legislators. I was dismissive of the notion until yesterday.

I guess I was too trusting of a Democratic president. I bet Nancy and Harry are having a conniption fit.

[tridim]

17. This Admin has not and will never cut SS.

The AARP PR department is not the Administration.

[Dragonfli]

23. Are you actually claiming the administration has been actively lying this whole time, really?

Are you also claiming McCaskill is lying?

The fact that the administration has posted the intention at whitehouse.gov is a furthering of their deliberate lie also in your opinion?
Or was the site hacked to "make Obama look bad"?

You are either delusional, believe the administration is a constant liar or are intentionally spreading disinformation.

Please stop.

[marmar]

12. No worries. I find them rather amusing.

[last1standing]

15. You have more patience than me.

I find willful ignorance revolting and those who spread it with childish insults, moreso.

[leftstreet]

11. You think Claire McCaskill is lying?

[Dragonfli]

24. I think the claim is she is lying, Obama has lied about his bargain position several times,

and whitehouse.gov was hacked or is part of the conspiracy of lies.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/factsheet/chained-cpi-protections


How someone that goes around claiming Obama is a habitual liar is considered a supporter is beyond me, usually it is one's enemies that label one a liar, not ones supporters.

[JoePhilly]

32. OBAMA's going to cut Social Security AGAIN!!!!!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. Why would Claire M. go on Joe Scumbag's show at all?

[Dragonfli]

25. To lie about the President according to some here, the same one's that claim Obama is a liar.

I don't think Obama or Claire McCaskill are liars, oddly only people claiming to be supporters are calling him/her liars, perhaps those that call them liars are really teabaggers.

Only a teabagger would have such a poor opinion of the truth telling ability of Obama and leading Democrats IMO.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. I don't think either one are liars; however, I can't stomach that show and would have preferred if

she went on Rachel or some other venue.

[Dragonfli]

29. You are right about that show, on that we are in complete agreement

I have always thought "Morning Joe" was more suited to fox where most of the other nausea inducing shows tend to be found.

I KNOW Joe is a liar, I can't even watch him or FOX for research, they annoy me too much to be able to get through their garbage.

[jsr]

22. That would be shocking

[MNBrewer]

27. Of course we're concerned that the cuts may be "on the table". Guess why...

Because the President has offered them up before. There is precedent.

[Rex]

40. I don't!

Remove this liberal from that worry list...it DIDN'T happen last time, so I have no reason to think chained CPI or any kind of cuts are actually on the table.